The 15 Best Scenic Train Rides in Switzerland (2026)
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Railtrail - 15th June 2026Key Summary: Switzerland has 15 scenic train routes worth knowing, not just the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. The Jungfrau Railway reaches Europe’s highest station at 3,454 metres. The Brienz Rothorn has run on steam since 1892, and the Furka Steam Railway covers the original Glacier Express route, abandoned in 1982 and rescued by volunteers. Most need booking well ahead: Glacier Express reservations open 93 days out, and the Brienz Rothorn sells out on summer weekends. Railtrail’s escorted Switzerland rail tours combine several routes in a single itinerary, with seat reservations, hotels, and transfers arranged for you.
Switzerland’s railway network covers 5,323 kilometres. Its most famous scenic routes total fewer than 900. No country in Europe concentrates more remarkable rail engineering into less space, and most of it is still running.
The Glacier Express and Bernina Express are the routes most visitors know before they arrive. Both are covered here in proper detail, alongside the mountain railways that reach altitudes no panoramic express can match and the steam lines still running on tracks first laid in the 1890s.
The regional routes are here too: scheduled trains that carry commuters to work each day, with scenery good enough to make tourists stop talking and look out the window.
Fifteen routes. Here is what each one offers.
1. The Glacier Express: Switzerland’s Most Famous Scenic Train Ride
Route: Zermatt to St. Moritz (or Chur) | Distance: 291 km | Duration: approx. 8 hours | Highest point: Oberalp Pass, 2,033m | Runs: Year-round except mid-October to early December
The Glacier Express runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz over 291 kilometres, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels in around eight hours. Billed as the world’s slowest express train, it averages 36 km/h and reaches its highest point at the Oberalp Pass, 2,033 metres above sea level.
Departing Zermatt, the line climbs through the Matter Valley before opening into the Rhine Gorge (the Ruinaulta), where pale limestone walls drop to a turquoise river below. The Landwasser Viaduct follows: 65 metres high, 136 metres long, six limestone arches curving directly into a cliff face.
Panoramic windows and glass roof panels run the length of the carriages. Meals can be ordered and served to your seat throughout the journey, with a pre-bookable set lunch available in 1st and 2nd class. Excellence Class adds a five-course regional menu and exclusive access to the Glacier Bar.
Seat reservation is required and sells out well in advance during peak season. No service runs from mid-October to early December. Book as early as possible: reservations open 93 days before travel for 1st and 2nd class.
Photo by Karin Hugentobler on Unsplash
2. The Bernina Express: The Most Scenic Train Journey in the Alps
Route: Chur to Tirano, Italy (also runs St. Moritz to Tirano) | Distance: 122 km | Duration: approx. 4 hours | Highest point: Ospizio Bernina, 2,253m | Runs: Year-round
The Bernina Express runs from Chur to Tirano in Italy, crossing the Alps without a single summit tunnel and climbing to 2,253 metres before descending to palm trees at Tirano, all in four hours.
The Landwasser Viaduct appears early on the southbound route, its six arches curving into the cliff face. The line then climbs past the Morteratsch Glacier to Alp Grüm, a high alpine saddle with views over glacier lakes, before reaching Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 metres. The descent brings the Brusio Circular Viaduct, where the train loops 360 degrees to manage the gradient into Italy. The Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
Panoramic windows with glass skylights run throughout. Snacks and drinks are served at your seat; there is no restaurant car. The Allegra cars at the front are unreserved with openable windows, useful for photography.
Seating tip: right-hand side travelling south for the best views of the Landwasser Viaduct, Brusio Circular Viaduct, and Ospizio Bernina.
Reservation required. Book as early as possible for summer travel: seats in the panoramic cars can sell out months ahead.
Railtrail’s Swiss Glacier Express & The Bernina tour combines both routes in one escorted itinerary, departing by Eurostar from London St Pancras with reservations and hotel bookings handled for you.
3. The GoldenPass Express: Luxury Train Travel Through Eight Lakes
Route: Montreux to Interlaken Ost | Distance: 115 km | Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes | Highest point: approx. 1,279m | Runs: Daily, year-round
The GoldenPass Express connects Montreux on Lake Geneva with Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland in three hours and fifteen minutes, crossing two language regions. Launched in December 2022, it was the first train to run the full route without passengers changing carriages; a gauge-change mechanism under the train resolves the difference in track widths at Zweisimmen.
The descent into Montreux opens with views over Lake Geneva. From there the line climbs through Gstaad to Zweisimmen before dropping towards Spiez on Lake Thun, with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau visible to the east on clear days.
The Montreux to Zweisimmen section runs two distinct services. The MOB Belle Époque uses restored carriages with period interiors; the MOB Panoramique covers the same section in modern cars. Confirm which service you are booking before you travel: the distinction matters and is easy to overlook.
No mandatory seat reservation on any of these services. Reservations are recommended in peak season, particularly for the Belle Époque, which only runs twice a day in each direction. Swiss Travel Pass covers the base fare.
November is worth considering: the crowds drop sharply and snow sits on the higher peaks while the lower valleys are still clear.
Photo by Devam Jhabak on Unsplash
4. The Gotthard Panorama Express: Switzerland’s Only Train and Boat Scenic Route
Route: Lucerne to Lugano (via boat to Flüelen then panoramic train) | Distance: 182 km | Duration: approx. 5.5 hours | Highest point: 1,141m | Runs: Mid-April to mid-October, daily
The Gotthard Panorama Express is the only Swiss scenic route combining a lake crossing with a panoramic train journey through the historic Gotthard Pass. The full Lucerne to Lugano route takes around five and a half hours and runs daily from 18 April to 18 October 2026.
The journey begins on Lake Lucerne, often by steamboat in peak summer months though motor vessels operate some sailings, passing the Rütliwiese meadow and Tell Chapel through William Tell country before docking at Flüelen, where railway staff transfer luggage to the waiting train.
The line then climbs to the Gotthard Pass, passing the village of Wassen, which appears from three different angles due to the spiral railway layout on the mountainside. The descent brings a sharp contrast: from Alpine rock and snow to the palm trees and warm light of Italian-speaking Ticino.
The train section is first class only. Passengers holding second class tickets need an upgrade. Seat reservation is required.
Photo by Eline Vijfhuizen on Unsplash
5. The Jungfrau Railway: Europe’s Highest Railway Station
Route: Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch | Distance: 9 km | Duration: approx. 35 minutes from Kleine Scheidegg | Highest point: Jungfraujoch, 3,454m | Runs: Year-round
The Jungfrau Railway climbs from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres, making it Europe’s highest railway station. Most of the nine-kilometre route runs inside the Eiger and Mönch mountains, emerging at the Sphinx Observatory for views over the Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps.
The line was completed in 1912 after 16 years of construction, begun in 1896 under dangerous conditions: workers drilled through granite and ice at altitude, contending with avalanches, explosions, and limited oxygen. At the summit, the Sphinx Observatory sits at 3,571 metres. The Aletsch Glacier stretches over 22 kilometres below, and on clear days the views extend to the Black Forest and the Vosges in France. The Ice Palace, carved directly into the glacier, is included in the summit experience.
The Jungfraujoch surcharge is not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. The full journey from Interlaken takes around two hours including connections via Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen and the Wengernalpbahn. Book ahead for summer and public holidays. High altitude can cause lightheadedness in some visitors.
Photo by Daniel R. on Unsplash
6. The Gornergrat Railway: The Best View of the Matterhorn by Train
Route: Zermatt to Gornergrat | Distance: approx. 9 km | Duration: approx. 33 minutes | Highest point: Gornergrat, 3,089m | Runs: Year-round
The Gornergrat Railway departs from Zermatt’s town centre and climbs to 3,089 metres in around 33 minutes, offering the most direct, unobstructed view of the Matterhorn available by train in Switzerland. It was the first electric rack railway in Switzerland when it opened in 1898, and the second in the world.
The Matterhorn appears from multiple angles on the ascent, growing larger as the line climbs through open alpine meadows. At the summit, the Gorner Glacier and Monte Rosa massif extend to the south, with 29 of the Alps’ four-thousanders visible on a clear day. Zermatt itself is a car-free village, reached by the Glacier Express or by rail from Visp.
Discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass but not fully covered. The journey is short enough to work as a half-day excursion, and pairs naturally with the Glacier Express: arrive into Zermatt on the Express, take the Gornergrat the following morning before departing.
Photo by Vladimir Kojovic on Unsplash
7. The Mount Pilatus Cogwheel Railway: The World’s Steepest Rack Railway
Route: Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm | Distance: approx. 4.6 km | Duration: approx. 30 minutes | Highest point: Pilatus Kulm, 2,073m | Maximum gradient: 48% | Runs: May to November (weather dependent)
The Mount Pilatus Cogwheel Railway holds the record as the world’s steepest rack railway, with a maximum gradient of 48%. Running from Alpnachstad on Lake Lucerne to Pilatus Kulm at 2,073 metres, the 30-minute ascent climbs through woods and tunnels, along flowery meadows, and over rocky outcrops before the summit opens to views over Lake Lucerne, the Bernese Alps, and on clear days the Black Forest.
The railway uses the Locher system, a design unique to Pilatus in which horizontal cogwheels engage the rack from both sides rather than from above, allowing safe operation on gradients too steep for any conventional rack system. At 48%, the Pilatus gradient has remained unrivalled since the line opened in 1889.
Seasonal operation runs approximately May to November. Not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, though a discount applies. The recommended approach is the classic round trip: boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, cogwheel railway to the summit, cable car down to Kriens, bus back to Lucerne.
Railtrail’s Big Five versus the Stoosbahn tour takes in the Pilatus Railway alongside the Stanserhorn, Titlis Rotair, Hammetschwand Lift, and Rigi Railway in an 8-day escorted itinerary based on the shores of Lake Lucerne, from £2,095 per person.
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
8. The Wengernalpbahn: The World’s Longest Cogwheel Railway
Route: Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg (via Wengen), or Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg | Distance: 19.1 km | Duration: 42 minutes from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg | Highest point: Kleine Scheidegg, 2,061m | Runs: Year-round
The Wengernalpbahn is the world’s longest continuous cogwheel railway, covering 19.1 kilometres between Lauterbrunnen and Kleine Scheidegg via Wengen. It connects the Lauterbrunnen valley with the saddle directly beneath the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, and provides the connection for passengers travelling on to Jungfraujoch.
Departing Lauterbrunnen, the Staubbach Falls are visible before the line begins its climb through open alpine meadows towards the car-free village of Wengen. Above Wengen, the Eiger North Face grows progressively larger as the train approaches Kleine Scheidegg, where it fills the view to the north. The panorama of the Grindelwald valley and the Bernese Oberland opens to the north.
Seating tip: sit on the right-hand side travelling from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg for the best views of the Eiger North Face and the valley below Wengen.
Part of the Jungfrau travel system. Swiss Travel Pass gives a discount.
Photo by Gabriel Cirelli on Unsplash
9. The Luzern-Interlaken Express: Five Lakes, a Mountain Pass, and Two Hours
Route: Lucerne to Interlaken Ost | Distance: 98 km | Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes | Highest point: Brünig Pass, approx. 1,000m | Runs: Year-round, hourly
The Luzern-Interlaken Express connects Lucerne and Interlaken in under two hours, passing five mountain lakes, a series of waterfalls, and the Brünig Pass, where the train switches to cogwheel drive to manage the gradient. The route forms the opening section of the GoldenPass Line and is part of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.
Lake Lucerne gives way to the smaller Sarner and Lungern lakes as the line climbs towards the Brünig Pass. The descent brings Meiringen, home of the Sherlock Holmes Museum and a short walk from the funicular base that carries visitors up to the Reichenbach Falls. From there the line follows the shores of Lake Brienz, passing the village of Brienz with its wood-carving heritage, before arriving into Interlaken with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau directly ahead.
Seating tip: sit on the right-hand side in the direction of travel throughout. The engine changes direction at Meiringen, so this applies to both legs of the journey.
Hourly service year-round, first and second class. No mandatory seat reservation. Bistro car available on branded express trains; advance reservation required for the bistro. Covered by Swiss Travel Pass.
Photo by Geertje Caliguire on Unsplash
10. The Voralpen Express: Central to Eastern Switzerland Through Rolling Prealpine Country
Route: Lucerne to St. Gallen | Distance: 125 km | Duration: 2 hours 18 minutes | Highest point: Biberegg, 933m | Runs: Year-round, hourly
The Voralpen Express links Lucerne and St. Gallen in two hours and eighteen minutes, crossing the rolling prealpine landscape of Central and Eastern Switzerland. It passes Switzerland’s largest contiguous upland moorland at Rothenthurm, crosses Lake Zurich at Rapperswil, and ends at St. Gallen, whose Abbey District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike the panoramic expresses, it carries regular commuters as well as tourists and runs hourly throughout the year.
Key highlights include the Rothenthurm upland moorland, Switzerland’s largest; the Seedamm causeway and bridge across Lake Zurich at Rapperswil, known as the city of roses; and the Sitter Viaduct near St. Gallen, at 99 metres the highest railway viaduct in Switzerland. St. Gallen’s Abbey Library, part of the UNESCO-listed Abbey District, is worth the visit alone.
No seat reservation needed. First and second class. Bistro areas on board. Covered by Swiss Travel Pass. Part of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.
Photo by Andreas Fischinger on Unsplash
11. The Mont Blanc Express: From the Swiss Valais to the Shadow of Europe’s Highest Peak
Route: Martigny to Chamonix, France (continuing to St. Gervais-les-Bains) | Distance: 38 km | Duration: approx. 90 minutes to Chamonix | Highest point: approx. 1,035m | Runs: Year-round
The Mont Blanc Express connects Martigny in the Swiss Valais with Chamonix in France, crossing an international border and passing through the wild Trient Gorge before arriving under the snow-covered flanks of Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest peak at 4,808 metres. The 90-minute journey crosses 21 tunnels and 28 bridges, carrying around 300,000 passengers per year.
Departing Martigny, the line climbs through alpine forest and villages before entering the Trient Gorge: a narrow section with waterfalls visible from the carriage windows. The French border crossing is seamless; valid travel documents are required. Chamonix offers the Aiguille du Midi cable car, the Mer de Glace glacier railway, and a town built entirely around mountaineering heritage.
Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel System tickets are valid to Chamonix. No seat reservation needed. A day pass is available from Martigny for those not holding a pass.
Photo by Andrea Caramello on Unsplash
12. The Brienz Rothorn Railway: Switzerland’s Only Daily Steam Locomotive Service
Route: Brienz to Rothorn Kulm | Distance: 7.6 km | Duration: approx. 1 hour | Highest point: Rothorn Kulm, 2,244m | Maximum gradient: 25% | Runs: Early June to late October
The Brienz Rothorn Railway is the only line in Switzerland to operate a full daily steam locomotive service, running since 1892. The 7.6-kilometre rack railway climbs from the shores of Lake Brienz at 566 metres to the Rothorn Kulm summit station at 2,244 metres, with a maximum gradient of 25%. On a clear day the summit offers views of 693 named Alpine peaks.
The cherry-red carriages are pushed by dark green steam locomotives with fully opening windows, which means no glass between you and the mountain air. The sound and pace of a working steam locomotive are part of the experience in a way no panoramic express can replicate. Lake Brienz is visible for much of the ascent, with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau appearing above the ridge as the train nears the summit.
The line was constructed in 1892 and operated as the only steam railway in Switzerland from 1953 to 1990. Steam capacity is limited; locomotives cannot be added at short notice, and summer weekends sell out. Book as early as possible. Not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, though a discount applies. The natural return is a Lake Brienz boat to Interlaken.
Photo by Josef Ivan Jimenea on Unsplash
13. The Furka Steam Railway: The Original Glacier Express Route, Preserved
Route: Realp to Oberwald | Distance: approx. 18 km | Duration: approx. 1.5 hours | Highest point: Furka Pass, approx. 2,160m | Runs: Late June to early October
The Furka Steam Railway runs the original Glacier Express route through the Central Alps between Realp and Oberwald, a section abandoned in 1982 when a new base tunnel was cut beneath it. Rescued by a volunteer preservation society, who recovered the rolling stock from Vietnam after it was sold when the line closed, it is one of the few remaining working steam railways in the Alps.
The Rhone Glacier is visible on the approach to the Furka Pass, and the original Glacier Express viaducts carry the train across exposed Alpine terrain. There is a quality to this route the modern panoramic trains cannot offer: travelling as passengers did before engineering made the crossing faster and less dramatic.
Seasonal operation runs late June to early October with limited departures. Not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Coordinating this with other steam lines requires planning; on an escorted tour it is handled as part of the itinerary.
Railtrail’s Switzerland Steam-Powered Six tour includes the Furka Steam Railway, the Brienz Rothorn Railway, and the Rigi Railway alongside three lake cruises, departing 27 June and 26 September 2026.
Photo by Daniel Roth on Unsplash
14. The Rigi Railway: Switzerland’s First Mountain Railway
Route: Vitznau to Rigi Kulm (main line); also Arth-Goldau to Rigi Kulm | Distance: approx. 7 km (Vitznau line) | Duration: approx. 30 minutes | Highest point: Rigi Kulm, 1,797m | Runs: Year-round
The Rigi Railway was Europe’s first mountain railway, opening in 1871 from Vitznau on Lake Lucerne. It climbs to 1,797 metres at Rigi Kulm, a summit known as the Queen of the Mountains for its 360-degree panorama over Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug, Lake Lauerz, and the Swiss Alps.
The Vitznau line is reached by boat from Lucerne, making the approach part of the experience. The combination of lake crossing, historic railway, and 360-degree summit panorama creates a more complete day than the altitude alone suggests. Sunrise from Rigi Kulm is a long-standing Swiss tradition; the summit hotel makes an overnight stay possible for those wanting to experience it.
Year-round service. Fully covered by Swiss Travel Pass. Both the Vitznau and Arth-Goldau lines reach the summit.
15. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn: The Glacier Express Route, at Your Own Pace
Route: Zermatt to Disentis/Mustér | Distance: approx. 144 km | Duration: varies; approx. 3-4 hours Zermatt to Andermatt | Highest point: Oberalp Pass, 2,033m | Runs: Year-round
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn is the regular regional railway operating the same tracks used by the Glacier Express, running between Zermatt and Disentis/Mustér through the Central Alps. Because it is a scheduled service rather than a dedicated tourist train, it requires no panoramic seat reservation and runs multiple times daily.
The distinction is worth understanding. The Glacier Express uses MGB tracks but runs as a dedicated tourist service with panoramic cars, a mandatory seat reservation surcharge, and a fixed timetable. The MGB regional trains cover the same route with the same scenery and no surcharge. The Matterhorn views, the Matter Valley, and the Schöllenen Gorge are identical on both, as is the Oberalp Pass.
No seat reservation surcharge. Runs multiple times daily. Fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
Which Swiss Scenic Train Is Right for You?
| Your priority | Recommended route |
| Full-day Alpine crossing with dining included | Glacier Express |
| Most scenic variety in the shortest time | Bernina Express |
| Comfort and period style | GoldenPass Express Belle Époque or Glacier Express Excellence Class |
| Closest Matterhorn views by train | Gornergrat Railway |
| Europe’s highest railway station | Jungfrau Railway |
| Widest scenery contrast in a single day | Gotthard Panorama Express |
| Heritage and steam railways | Brienz Rothorn Railway, Furka Steam Railway, or Rigi Railway |
| Glacier Express scenery without the surcharge | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
The major panoramic trains require seat reservations well in advance: book as early as possible for the Glacier Express, as reservations open 93 days before travel and sell out in peak season; for the Bernina Express in summer, seats can sell out months ahead. The steam railways have limited capacity and sell out on summer weekends. On a Railtrail escorted tour, all seat reservations and logistics are arranged as part of the package. Railtrail has run escorted rail holidays for over 40 years, with ABTOT financial protection (member no. 5577) on every tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most scenic train ride in Switzerland?
The Bernina Express is widely considered the most visually spectacular, crossing the Alps without a summit tunnel and descending from glaciers to Italian palm trees in around two hours between St. Moritz and Tirano. The Glacier Express covers more ground over eight hours with an at-seat meal available, and is the stronger choice for those wanting a full-day Alpine crossing.
Which train has the best views in Switzerland?
For mountain scenery, the Bernina Express reaches 2,253 metres and crosses two UNESCO World Heritage landscapes. For the closest Matterhorn views, the Gornergrat Railway puts you at 3,089 metres directly in front of the peak. For altitude alone, the Jungfrau Railway reaches Europe’s highest station at 3,454 metres.
Do I need to book Swiss scenic trains in advance?
Yes. Reservations for the Glacier Express open 93 days before travel and sell out well ahead in peak season. The Bernina Express can sell out months ahead for summer travel. The Brienz Rothorn Railway has limited steam capacity and sells out on summer weekends. On an escorted tour, all reservations are arranged as part of the package.
What is the difference between the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express?
The Glacier Express runs eight hours between Zermatt and St. Moritz with dining available. The Bernina Express runs from Chur to Tirano in Italy in around four hours, or around two hours from St. Moritz to Tirano, reaching 2,253 metres across two UNESCO World Heritage landscapes. The Bernina Express offers more per hour; the Glacier Express is the more immersive full-day experience.
What is the best time of year to take the Swiss scenic trains?
September and October offer the best balance of clear visibility, autumn colour, and fewer crowds. Winter is ideal for the Glacier Express when the Alps are snow-covered. Note that the Gotthard Panorama Express runs mid-April to mid-October only, and the Brienz Rothorn and Furka Steam railways operate June to October only.
Can I experience Switzerland’s scenic railways without planning everything myself?
Railtrail’s escorted Switzerland tours cover the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, steam railways, and mountain lines as part of fully planned itineraries. Seat reservations, hotels and transfers are arranged for you, with departures by Eurostar from London St Pancras. As an award-winning, family-run rail specialist with over 40 years of experience, Railtrail provides ABTOT and ATOL protected holidays.
